USTA LEAGUE

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has special meaning for Southern women’s team

For the Southern Section women’s team representing the Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, N.C., playing at the 2013 USTA League Adult 40 & Over 3.5 National Championships during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has a special meaning.

One of the team’s key singles players, Colleen Ueland, suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s North Carolina District Championships in June. At that time, Ueland was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Ueland underwent a double mastectomy in August and unfortunately was unable to accompany the team to the League Nationals this weekend at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

As a sign of support for Ueland, the women’s Southern Section team wore pink during the National Championships.

“It’s heartbreaking that she can’t be here, but she’s very close to coming back,” said team member Gretchen Cooling.

“She’s here in spirit, and she’s lifting us up,” said teammate Jan Smith. “She’s always an upbeat person and a total team player. She is a beautiful person, inside as well as outside."

Members of the Southern Section women’s 3.5 team participated in “Preston in Pink” fundraisers at the Prestonwood Country Club this past year and helped raised $45,000 to fight breast cancer.

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